Mamata Banerjee supports Chandrababu Naidu over TDP-BJP war of words

Reacting to the TDP's quit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which runs the central government, over the demands of a special status for Andhra Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah has said in a letter the Centre gave funds to the state but the Naidu government failed to utilise them.

Naidu countered Shah stating that Andhra Pradesh has good GDP, agriculture.

He has also alleged Shah to spread lies.

Banerjee, with whom Naidu had an interaction post TDP quit from the NDA, tweeted, "I appreciate that Chandrababu Naidu Ji @ncbn has stated the facts. Very good. There are many so called leaders who spread lies. They make this a habit. They try and bulldoze States and show that they are doing the States a favour by giving funds. This is fake federalism."

Shah's letter has been quoted by The Indian Express, "(TDP) decision is both unfortunate as well as unilateral. It is a decision; I am afraid, will be construed as being guided wholly and solely by political considerations instead of development concerns."

The TDP had withdrawn itself from the NDA government over the demands of a special status for the state.

The Andhra Pradesh ruling party had alleged that the BJP-led NDA government failed to fulfill the promises it made to the state.

However, Shah has nullified such allegations made by the TDP saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government are always for the development for all.

The BJP President said the central government are committed to develop Andhra Pradesh.

Shah said: "Andhra Pradesh is the only state to receive the award of revenue deficit grants for all the five years besides the north-eastern and hilly states. Does that not show that the Central Government has been sensitive to the needs of Andhra Pradesh?"

The TDP had first withdrawn its two ministers from the NDA government.

Days after quitting the ministries, Naidu's party pulled itself from the NDA government.

The TDP's quit from the central government had raised the instant speculations about a possible third front which are doing the talks for sometime at the national level.